Bystander paralyzed after being shot in North Texas

A young man was forever changed last month when police say he was an innocent victim of gunfire.

John Fitzgerald Lee, Jr., 21, was hit by a bullet that left him unable to walk. He was caught in the middle of a gunfight that he had nothing to do with.

“He was an innocent bystander that was going to 7-Eleven,” said Lee’s mother, Angela Jones. “You know, get a Slurpee, get gas and saw a friend.”

On Oct. 19 as he stood outside that friend’s car, gunfire erupted in the 7-Eleven parking lot.

Lee was wounded and Leander Andrews was killed.

“He was shot in the neck and it ruptured his spine, and he will be paralyzed,” said Jones. “But I mean, I serve a greater, awesome God, so I know that my baby gonna be alright.”

“Tell me about John. What kind of young man was he before this?” said FOX 4’s Shaun Rabb.

“He played basketball,” said Jones. “He's known all over, not only Dallas but all over Texas. He done played in summer leagues. He’s 6-foot-5, he’s a handsome young man. He could've did great things. He wanted to be a marine biologist. He was invited to go to the NASA space camp during the summertime. I mean, he’s a very intelligent young man.”

You're gonna need some special things for him, right?” said Rabb.

“Yes sir,” said Jones.

“Tell me about those things you're gonna need,” said Rabb.

“I’m gonna need a wheelchair,” said Jones. “I’m a have to get a wheelchair ramp accessible van so he’s accessible to do his business. I don’t want him to sit in the house and feel like he has no life. I want him through me to continue to do what he's put here to do.”